So you're in Hollywood trying to land your next gig (or first) in order to pay the rent for that ant infested studio apartment on the South side of Korea Town. And when I say gig, I don't necessarily mean as a writer. Of course you are a writer, but unless you're one of the anointed ones lucky enough to sell a spec script right off the bat, you need to work in the industry, partly for necessity- to pay the bills - but partly (and more importantly) to make connections. Networking is relationship gold. Ideas, spirit, creativity, charisma, charm... show it! Make them see…

An outline permits a critical scrutiny of the skeleton before the flesh of action and dialogue are applied. In fact, the very act of putting the “spine” down on paper reveals things about the story that wouldn’t be evident without outlining. The most rudimentary plan for a screenplay should contain the five following elements: 1. Who the central character is and what he/she wants. 2. Who the other principle characters are and what they each want. 3. The five major plot points: Point of Attack, Lock In, First Culmination, Main Culmination, and Resolution. 4. The…